# NTSB CHI95LA260: Schweizer G-164A-450, N7994, Grand Forks, ND, August 5, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1995, 08:05 local (13:05 UTC)
- Place: Grand Forks, ND
- Coordinates: 47.909187, -97.070755 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9092&lon=-97.0708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9977
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA260
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9977/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA260

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with transmission wires.  A factor in the accident was the sunglare.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SPRAYING A FIELD WHICH HAD TWO SETS OF POWERLINES LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE FIELD.  WHILE FINISHING HIS FOURTH PASS OVER THE FIELD, THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO UNDER ONE SET OF WIRES AND OVER THE OTHER SET.  THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WIRES, YAWED TO THE RIGHT, AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THE LOW SUN IN THE EAST CAUSED HIM TO HAVE SOME VISUAL PROBLEM AND POSSIBLY MISJUDGE THE LOCATION OF THE POWERLINES.

## Factual narrative

On August 5, 1995, at 0805 central daylight time (cdt), an Schweizer G-164A, N7994, was substantially damaged when it struck transmission wires while maneuvering during an aerial application.  The pilot reported minor injuries.  The local 14 CFR Part 137 flight departed a private airstrip in Grand Forks, North Dakota, at 0740 cdt in visual meteorological conditions.  No flight plan was on file.

The pilot reported he was in the process of spraying a field which had powerlines located along the east perimeter of the field and another set of powerlines which ran from the northwest to the southeast over the field.   While finishing his fourth pass over the field, the pilot stated "I was going under the powerline in the field and over the small one by the road.  The sun was very low in the east causing some visual problem and maybe made me misjudge the location of the powerlines."  The airplane struck the powerline, yawed to the right, and impacted the ground.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7994](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7994-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 855, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schweizer G-164A-450
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 855
- Airframe hours: 6792
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: 4 Js Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 1995, 226 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Airport: NONE, Jensen, runway 18, 2,400 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 5,111 total, 1,037 in this make and model, 271 in the last 90 days, 160 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950805048079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950805048079A), Aug 5, 1995: Scwzer G164A, Grandforks, ND, No damage. (-23) Pilot was spraying potato field. Pilot was flying under one set of diagonal wires crossing the field and flying over another set on the end of the field.…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.